1 00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:09,110 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:27,620 --> 00:00:25,730 Richard Saunders here from Sydney 3 00:00:31,580 --> 00:00:27,630 Australia for the skeptic zone podcast 4 00:00:35,450 --> 00:00:31,590 it's episode number 126 was just one 5 00:00:38,270 --> 00:00:35,460 week ago well just over a week ago I was 6 00:00:41,990 --> 00:00:38,280 quite happy with myself I got the 7 00:00:43,810 --> 00:00:42,000 previous skeptic zone out online I was 8 00:00:46,660 --> 00:00:43,820 sitting back and enjoying the afternoon 9 00:00:49,930 --> 00:00:46,670 when I happened to flick on the TV and 10 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:49,940 there was a report of an earthquake in 11 00:00:58,430 --> 00:00:53,850 Japan and I don't need to tell you the 12 00:01:01,250 --> 00:00:58,440 rest as it happened I was having a chat 13 00:01:05,149 --> 00:01:01,260 to a good friend of mine Kerry I win one 14 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:05,159 of the skeptics and we watched together 15 00:01:12,109 --> 00:01:07,650 in horror in our respective countries 16 00:01:14,210 --> 00:01:12,119 the unfolding disaster so some of this 17 00:01:17,390 --> 00:01:14,220 week's show will be devoted to topics 18 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:17,400 relating to disasters i guess the 19 00:01:23,990 --> 00:01:20,850 tsunami and previous tsunamis and also 20 00:01:28,039 --> 00:01:24,000 to the interesting issue of atomic 21 00:01:30,580 --> 00:01:28,049 reactors in fact first up Maynard will 22 00:01:33,350 --> 00:01:30,590 interview professor David Jamison 23 00:01:36,469 --> 00:01:33,360 professor of physics at the University 24 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:36,479 of Melbourne about his thoughts and 25 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:39,450 feelings about atomic reactors and his 26 00:01:44,630 --> 00:01:41,310 thoughts about the current situation in 27 00:01:47,389 --> 00:01:44,640 Japan and after that on a similar sort 28 00:01:51,130 --> 00:01:47,399 of topic dr. Richie and dr. Reggie 29 00:01:53,630 --> 00:01:51,140 reports will look at the unbelievable 30 00:01:57,819 --> 00:01:53,640 newsletter that came out from homeopathy 31 00:02:01,130 --> 00:01:57,829 plus here in Australia advocating 32 00:02:04,490 --> 00:02:01,140 homeopathic remedies or radiation 33 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:04,500 sickness you might have to rewind that 34 00:02:08,869 --> 00:02:06,090 little bit to understand it now I'll 35 00:02:10,850 --> 00:02:08,879 tell you again they are advocating that 36 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:10,860 you take homeopathy to counter the 37 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:13,170 effects of radiation sickness 38 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:15,290 I don't even have to comment about that 39 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:19,410 following dr. H E is reality bites with 40 00:02:25,670 --> 00:02:22,610 Joanne been home ooh and then we have to 41 00:02:28,220 --> 00:02:25,680 editorials one from the former president 42 00:02:31,250 --> 00:02:28,230 and former CEO of Australian skeptics 43 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:31,260 and former editor of the magazine the 44 00:02:37,340 --> 00:02:35,010 skeptic magazine Barry Williams with an 45 00:02:42,589 --> 00:02:37,350 editorial he originally wrote to cover 46 00:02:43,790 --> 00:02:42,599 the previous tsunami back in 2004 and to 47 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:43,800 round off the show we have another 48 00:02:49,370 --> 00:02:46,290 editorial from Peter Babbage otherwise 49 00:02:51,949 --> 00:02:49,380 known as red bag from ratbags calm with 50 00:02:54,949 --> 00:02:51,959 an editorial he wrote along a similar 51 00:02:57,470 --> 00:02:54,959 vein here is the skeptic zone and this 52 00:03:16,080 --> 00:02:57,480 week it is particularly relevant to the 53 00:03:26,650 --> 00:03:21,030 here's my not spooky action at the 54 00:03:31,610 --> 00:03:29,900 good afternoon how hello I'm just fine 55 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:31,620 look thank you for taking my call you 56 00:03:36,140 --> 00:03:33,210 have very busy would conferences last 57 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:36,150 time we spoke changed since we last 58 00:03:39,770 --> 00:03:38,250 spoke it certainly has that ladies and 59 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:39,780 gentlemen a few months ago I was trying 60 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:41,490 to do a story with this man here dr. 61 00:03:46,610 --> 00:03:44,730 David Jamison and basically no one was 62 00:03:48,260 --> 00:03:46,620 interested because thorium reactors was 63 00:03:50,510 --> 00:03:48,270 something that only crazy scientist 64 00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:50,520 talks about an experimental way but 65 00:03:54,290 --> 00:03:52,710 suddenly dr. thorium reactors have 66 00:03:57,050 --> 00:03:54,300 become very interesting to a lot of 67 00:04:01,160 --> 00:03:57,060 people haven't they yes I have and 68 00:04:05,150 --> 00:04:01,170 people go thorium what is that well 69 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:05,160 thorium is a relatively common heavy 70 00:04:10,750 --> 00:04:07,770 elements like uranium but a little bit 71 00:04:13,130 --> 00:04:10,760 lighter either because naturally in the 72 00:04:15,620 --> 00:04:13,140 crust of the earth where it's about as 73 00:04:17,150 --> 00:04:15,630 abundant as lead which I think not 74 00:04:19,940 --> 00:04:17,160 people would be much more familiar with 75 00:04:23,630 --> 00:04:19,950 and where are most of the deposits of 76 00:04:26,300 --> 00:04:23,640 thorium in the world at it seems to be 77 00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:26,310 fairly well distributed around the world 78 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:29,850 some of the biggest deposits of thorium 79 00:04:34,130 --> 00:04:32,370 minerals are right here in Australia I 80 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:34,140 think probably where are the number one 81 00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:36,090 or number two in the world for thorium 82 00:04:43,909 --> 00:04:39,990 reserves with the United States and 83 00:04:46,970 --> 00:04:43,919 India also with very big deposits of 84 00:04:49,610 --> 00:04:46,980 thorium it's not a very rare material 85 00:04:52,340 --> 00:04:49,620 now the question that's been asked is if 86 00:04:55,270 --> 00:04:52,350 this is a potential use in a nuclear 87 00:04:57,590 --> 00:04:55,280 reactor why aren't they doing it already 88 00:04:59,930 --> 00:04:57,600 well that's a very good question and 89 00:05:02,600 --> 00:04:59,940 experts in the field who have been asked 90 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:02,610 that same question have said well it's a 91 00:05:07,370 --> 00:05:05,370 bit like going into a forest and cutting 92 00:05:08,890 --> 00:05:07,380 down a whole lot of green timber and 93 00:05:11,180 --> 00:05:08,900 trying to get a fire going with that 94 00:05:13,730 --> 00:05:11,190 instead of using all the dead wood 95 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:13,740 flying around on the forest floor which 96 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:16,050 burns a lot better so thorium is like 97 00:05:20,630 --> 00:05:18,410 the green wood and the dead wood is like 98 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:20,640 uranium it's much easier to get the 99 00:05:27,050 --> 00:05:24,330 nuclear reaction started in uranium then 100 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:27,060 the thorium and so that's why you're 101 00:05:32,659 --> 00:05:30,330 onium has had a head start in a nuclear 102 00:05:34,159 --> 00:05:32,669 reactor compared to thorium now the 103 00:05:35,870 --> 00:05:34,169 problem we have with the Japanese 104 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:35,880 reactors at the moment if they were 105 00:05:38,970 --> 00:05:37,090 thorium 106 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:38,980 be we be having any problem like this or 107 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:40,330 is the main problem of the Japanese 108 00:05:46,740 --> 00:05:44,770 reactors their age anyway well there's a 109 00:05:49,230 --> 00:05:46,750 there's a diversity of opinion about 110 00:05:51,150 --> 00:05:49,240 that Maynard but from my point of view 111 00:05:52,950 --> 00:05:51,160 the the problem that the Japanese 112 00:05:57,420 --> 00:05:52,960 reactors have experienced is that 113 00:06:01,230 --> 00:05:57,430 terrible tsunami which has washed 114 00:06:04,110 --> 00:06:01,240 through the the old the old plant which 115 00:06:07,590 --> 00:06:04,120 hadn't behaved very well obviously it's 116 00:06:09,830 --> 00:06:07,600 a terrible tragedy but what seems to 117 00:06:12,900 --> 00:06:09,840 have happened is that the tsunami has 118 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:12,910 destroyed all the backup power systems 119 00:06:18,690 --> 00:06:15,610 which were needed for the cooling of the 120 00:06:22,890 --> 00:06:18,700 shutdown reactors i'm pretty sure from 121 00:06:24,810 --> 00:06:22,900 the press reports that the reactor all 122 00:06:28,350 --> 00:06:24,820 the reactors on the site there had been 123 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:28,360 shut down as you'd expect automatically 124 00:06:34,020 --> 00:06:31,930 after the earthquake but unfortunately 125 00:06:35,700 --> 00:06:34,030 the tsunami which arrived as the 126 00:06:38,990 --> 00:06:35,710 reactors were shutting down or had 127 00:06:42,150 --> 00:06:39,000 already shut down destroyed all the 128 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:42,160 power switch yards and the backup diesel 129 00:06:48,719 --> 00:06:45,610 generators leaving them very vulnerable 130 00:06:52,710 --> 00:06:48,729 now to the to overheating but I 131 00:06:55,260 --> 00:06:52,720 emphasized that although the the six 132 00:06:58,830 --> 00:06:55,270 reactors on the site of the Fukushima 133 00:07:00,870 --> 00:06:58,840 one power station are the ones that are 134 00:07:04,170 --> 00:07:00,880 causing the problem the three of them 135 00:07:05,820 --> 00:07:04,180 were weren't in service at the time of 136 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:05,830 the earthquake and the other three were 137 00:07:13,170 --> 00:07:09,370 but would have shut down immediately in 138 00:07:14,850 --> 00:07:13,180 response to the earthquake but the after 139 00:07:16,860 --> 00:07:14,860 you shadow reactor down you have to keep 140 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:16,870 the cooling pumps running to dissipate 141 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:18,370 the enormous amount of heat in the 142 00:07:24,060 --> 00:07:21,130 reactor core and the tsunami has been 143 00:07:27,210 --> 00:07:24,070 destroyed the it appears has destroyed 144 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:27,220 the pumps and the water intakes and the 145 00:07:31,830 --> 00:07:29,650 power stations and this has created some 146 00:07:33,900 --> 00:07:31,840 significant difficulties obviously which 147 00:07:35,460 --> 00:07:33,910 we're seeing today well given what has 148 00:07:38,310 --> 00:07:35,470 happened in Japan do you think there 149 00:07:39,810 --> 00:07:38,320 would be any interest worldwide on 150 00:07:42,180 --> 00:07:39,820 particularly in Australia to do any 151 00:07:44,370 --> 00:07:42,190 further thorium research to maybe 152 00:07:46,140 --> 00:07:44,380 perhaps make new nuclear power plants as 153 00:07:48,450 --> 00:07:46,150 this is not going to make the image of 154 00:07:50,430 --> 00:07:48,460 nuclear power generally any healthier I 155 00:07:51,870 --> 00:07:50,440 well yes indeed 156 00:07:54,180 --> 00:07:51,880 in fact I should have answered your 157 00:07:55,530 --> 00:07:54,190 question whether their thorium reactor 158 00:07:58,680 --> 00:07:55,540 would have had the same problems that 159 00:08:02,010 --> 00:07:58,690 probably would have because any any 160 00:08:04,350 --> 00:08:02,020 reactor needs to be cooled for a period 161 00:08:06,060 --> 00:08:04,360 of time after is shut down just to get 162 00:08:08,750 --> 00:08:06,070 the heat out of the core because they're 163 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:08,760 operating at very high temperatures and 164 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:15,010 I I think that probably when when Japan 165 00:08:19,980 --> 00:08:16,810 begins to recover from this terrible 166 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:19,990 terrible disaster pawling loss of life 167 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:23,410 and livelihood that in the overall 168 00:08:29,130 --> 00:08:26,970 scheme of things although the nuclear 169 00:08:31,050 --> 00:08:29,140 disaster is getting an enormous amount 170 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:31,060 of press coverage I think the loss of 171 00:08:37,110 --> 00:08:34,450 life and livelihood from just a physical 172 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:37,120 destruction caused by the tsunami of the 173 00:08:43,170 --> 00:08:39,490 railways and the roads and the houses 174 00:08:46,170 --> 00:08:43,180 and the awful tragedy of people who have 175 00:08:49,380 --> 00:08:46,180 lost their lives will will will be 176 00:08:52,740 --> 00:08:49,390 greatly outweigh the problems caused by 177 00:08:55,980 --> 00:08:52,750 the reactors I mean you've got already 178 00:08:58,890 --> 00:08:55,990 an estimate of 10,000 people killed from 179 00:09:01,230 --> 00:08:58,900 the tsunami which is really appalling we 180 00:09:04,410 --> 00:09:01,240 have to keep in mind those the reactors 181 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:04,420 in Japan have spent 40 years producing 182 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:07,090 electricity with very low amounts of 183 00:09:11,970 --> 00:09:09,130 greenhouse gas emissions we must always 184 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:11,980 keep that in mind when assessing you 185 00:09:18,150 --> 00:09:14,650 know what's happening now that's 40 186 00:09:20,220 --> 00:09:18,160 years of not producing carbon dioxide in 187 00:09:22,830 --> 00:09:20,230 response to producing an enormous amount 188 00:09:26,690 --> 00:09:22,840 of electric power for the for the nation 189 00:09:29,580 --> 00:09:26,700 I think we should we should weigh up the 190 00:09:32,550 --> 00:09:29,590 alternatives to to producing electricity 191 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:32,560 with low carbon dioxide whether it's geo 192 00:09:38,370 --> 00:09:35,050 sequestration or solar or wind or 193 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:38,380 geothermal or or the different flavors 194 00:09:43,980 --> 00:09:40,210 of nuclear reactor we should weigh them 195 00:09:46,620 --> 00:09:43,990 all up and do a cost-benefit analysis 196 00:09:49,620 --> 00:09:46,630 and we've find out which one is going to 197 00:09:51,690 --> 00:09:49,630 be the cheapest and most effective for 198 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:51,700 Australia for Victoria for New South 199 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:54,010 Wales wherever we choose to look at 200 00:09:59,010 --> 00:09:56,490 alternatives to to what we're doing now 201 00:10:01,440 --> 00:09:59,020 so do you think if there is a future for 202 00:10:04,199 --> 00:10:01,450 thorium in the nuclear industry how many 203 00:10:09,030 --> 00:10:04,209 years would be away if anyone decided 204 00:10:13,340 --> 00:10:09,040 really given solid go to roll it out on 205 00:10:16,410 --> 00:10:13,350 a scale sufficient to to make an impact 206 00:10:18,929 --> 00:10:16,420 so for example in India they they want 207 00:10:22,169 --> 00:10:18,939 to try and get a quarter of their power 208 00:10:25,499 --> 00:10:22,179 needs by the 2050 time scale I mentioned 209 00:10:27,660 --> 00:10:25,509 earlier that's about 270 gigawatts which 210 00:10:31,049 --> 00:10:27,670 is an enormous amount of power India 211 00:10:33,239 --> 00:10:31,059 being a big country after all and they 212 00:10:37,249 --> 00:10:33,249 have a they have a very aggressive 213 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:37,259 program to achieve that goal so that's 214 00:10:44,639 --> 00:10:40,689 two so that's an example of the sort of 215 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:44,649 timeframe that people are working to how 216 00:10:49,139 --> 00:10:46,689 do you feel when you see sort of quack 217 00:10:50,910 --> 00:10:49,149 ideas of like zero point energy and you 218 00:10:54,150 --> 00:10:50,920 see guys making experiment on a bench 219 00:10:55,739 --> 00:10:54,160 and I seem to be creating that power out 220 00:10:57,150 --> 00:10:55,749 of nothing how do you as a physicist 221 00:10:58,769 --> 00:10:57,160 take that because it every once in a 222 00:11:01,400 --> 00:10:58,779 while we get someone with a miracle way 223 00:11:05,730 --> 00:11:01,410 to make power that doesn't really add up 224 00:11:08,369 --> 00:11:05,740 well yeah a good question I have a 225 00:11:09,509 --> 00:11:08,379 pretty thick file here in my office and 226 00:11:15,299 --> 00:11:09,519 people who have written to me about 227 00:11:18,749 --> 00:11:15,309 these schemes but it's look you know 228 00:11:20,489 --> 00:11:18,759 it's a bit like imagining someone 229 00:11:22,289 --> 00:11:20,499 proposing to the government they need 230 00:11:25,079 --> 00:11:22,299 some funding to go off and discover a 231 00:11:27,809 --> 00:11:25,089 new continent in the Pacific Ocean that 232 00:11:29,309 --> 00:11:27,819 hasn't been discovered yet you know 233 00:11:31,499 --> 00:11:29,319 you'd be pretty reluctant to put any 234 00:11:33,539 --> 00:11:31,509 money behind financing an expedition 235 00:11:35,309 --> 00:11:33,549 expedition to discover that continent 236 00:11:37,919 --> 00:11:35,319 and you'd really need a pretty 237 00:11:39,780 --> 00:11:37,929 compelling reason why this person 238 00:11:41,220 --> 00:11:39,790 thought there was a new continent out 239 00:11:43,980 --> 00:11:41,230 there in the Pacific that no one had 240 00:11:46,470 --> 00:11:43,990 seen yet and and looking for new sources 241 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:46,480 of energy is a bit like that i'm pretty 242 00:11:51,539 --> 00:11:48,610 happy to listen to someone with a really 243 00:11:54,239 --> 00:11:51,549 good reason why they think they can roll 244 00:11:55,710 --> 00:11:54,249 out a new form of energy or power 245 00:11:59,189 --> 00:11:55,720 generation that no one's thought of 246 00:12:01,949 --> 00:11:59,199 before but without that very very good 247 00:12:04,590 --> 00:12:01,959 reason our i really would prefer not to 248 00:12:06,210 --> 00:12:04,600 listen and do these are proposals to you 249 00:12:08,730 --> 00:12:06,220 come in the form of a perpetual motion 250 00:12:11,309 --> 00:12:08,740 machine or a completely new way to 251 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:11,319 generate power well sometimes it's very 252 00:12:15,180 --> 00:12:13,569 difficult to say to tell the truth it's 253 00:12:18,270 --> 00:12:15,190 often difficult to 254 00:12:22,500 --> 00:12:18,280 understand exactly what they're talking 255 00:12:25,290 --> 00:12:22,510 about and you know the diagrams are 256 00:12:27,810 --> 00:12:25,300 complex and sometimes it's often just a 257 00:12:29,730 --> 00:12:27,820 matter that they forget about the second 258 00:12:31,830 --> 00:12:29,740 law of thermodynamics and I don't want 259 00:12:34,980 --> 00:12:31,840 to go into the advanced course on in 260 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:34,990 this phone call but it's that's it it's 261 00:12:39,090 --> 00:12:37,090 not just sufficient to conserve energy 262 00:12:40,170 --> 00:12:39,100 in your power station you've got to 263 00:12:42,270 --> 00:12:40,180 worry about the second law of 264 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:42,280 thermodynamics which basically says if 265 00:12:46,020 --> 00:12:44,410 you've got a bathtub full of hot water 266 00:12:48,750 --> 00:12:46,030 you've got an enormous amount of energy 267 00:12:50,130 --> 00:12:48,760 in that hot water but you can't use it 268 00:12:52,890 --> 00:12:50,140 to charge the battery of your mobile 269 00:12:55,470 --> 00:12:52,900 phone I'm afraid or at least you can't 270 00:12:57,390 --> 00:12:55,480 do it very efficiently because of the 271 00:12:59,190 --> 00:12:57,400 second law look look while we're talking 272 00:13:00,900 --> 00:12:59,200 about on the verge of conspiracy 273 00:13:03,110 --> 00:13:00,910 theories I'll just ask you one question 274 00:13:05,460 --> 00:13:03,120 as a physicist there is a conspiracy 275 00:13:07,530 --> 00:13:05,470 theory that the Germans during the 276 00:13:10,710 --> 00:13:07,540 Second World War were actually able to 277 00:13:13,110 --> 00:13:10,720 fire off some some kind of dirty nuclear 278 00:13:14,850 --> 00:13:13,120 weapon somewhere in the in the Gulf of 279 00:13:16,710 --> 00:13:14,860 Finland up that way do you think there's 280 00:13:18,750 --> 00:13:16,720 any possibility that they did that 281 00:13:21,540 --> 00:13:18,760 because although that just pure 282 00:13:24,810 --> 00:13:21,550 speculation actually I've looked into 283 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:24,820 this and I believe its without merit I 284 00:13:31,050 --> 00:13:27,010 don't think there's even a grain of 285 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:31,060 truth in SD the thing about nuclear 286 00:13:36,630 --> 00:13:33,610 materials and radioactive materials is 287 00:13:39,990 --> 00:13:36,640 that they produce a very strong signal 288 00:13:43,500 --> 00:13:40,000 just lying around as we all know we've 289 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:43,510 all seen the terrible scenes of people 290 00:13:47,730 --> 00:13:45,250 in Japan being screened for 291 00:13:51,330 --> 00:13:47,740 contamination with Geiger counters and 292 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:51,340 in some ways you could regard that as an 293 00:13:56,340 --> 00:13:54,010 advantage any any contamination unlike 294 00:13:58,710 --> 00:13:56,350 chemical contamination which may be very 295 00:14:01,650 --> 00:13:58,720 difficult to detect until it's all over 296 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:01,660 the the the waste from nuclear reactors 297 00:14:07,260 --> 00:14:03,490 produce strong signals that are easy to 298 00:14:11,700 --> 00:14:07,270 detect and so if if such an experiment 299 00:14:13,380 --> 00:14:11,710 had been had happened you don't need to 300 00:14:15,180 --> 00:14:13,390 be it wouldn't be subtle you could get 301 00:14:16,890 --> 00:14:15,190 your Geiger counter and get out there in 302 00:14:19,620 --> 00:14:16,900 the field and try and measure that the 303 00:14:22,110 --> 00:14:19,630 waste products and it wouldn't be a 304 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:22,120 subtle signal so on this island they 305 00:14:25,260 --> 00:14:23,530 literally did it it wouldn't be just 306 00:14:26,620 --> 00:14:25,270 slightly above background radiation 307 00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:26,630 level it would be a lot 308 00:14:31,660 --> 00:14:29,510 yes and and you could you could actually 309 00:14:33,580 --> 00:14:31,670 measure the act of the signals in a more 310 00:14:34,810 --> 00:14:33,590 sophisticated way than just using a 311 00:14:37,090 --> 00:14:34,820 Geiger counter with some very 312 00:14:40,260 --> 00:14:37,100 straightforward detectives and you'd see 313 00:14:42,310 --> 00:14:40,270 immediately the fingerprint of any such 314 00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:42,320 such experiment that would be 315 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:44,510 unmistakable and unambiguous it and it 316 00:14:49,690 --> 00:14:46,370 wouldn't be subtle it would be would be 317 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:49,700 very very clear what had gone on look 318 00:14:52,810 --> 00:14:51,050 them Thank You professor David Jamison 319 00:14:55,150 --> 00:14:52,820 thank you for talking to us today and 320 00:14:57,060 --> 00:14:55,160 talking to us about thorium and putting 321 00:14:59,850 --> 00:14:57,070 a couple of these conspiracies to rest 322 00:15:03,100 --> 00:14:59,860 I've got to think up some new ones now 323 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:03,110 okay fine yes look at that thank you 324 00:15:13,910 --> 00:15:04,850 very much for your time and I really 325 00:15:19,230 --> 00:15:16,530 now on Belfast FM we turn to the person 326 00:15:21,330 --> 00:15:19,240 lads easygoing and confident skeptic 327 00:15:23,670 --> 00:15:21,340 seeks other critical thinkers for fun 328 00:15:25,770 --> 00:15:23,680 laughter and good times must be willing 329 00:15:27,660 --> 00:15:25,780 to apply logic liberally and a good 330 00:15:29,730 --> 00:15:27,670 listener expect something new and 331 00:15:31,710 --> 00:15:29,740 interesting every month come and meet me 332 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:31,720 in Belfast in Northern Ireland if this 333 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:33,610 sounds like you check out my profile on 334 00:15:46,050 --> 00:15:37,210 alpha skeptics calm music by Kevin 335 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:46,060 MacLeod now it's time for dr. Rachel 336 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:51,490 reports with dr. Rachel Dunlop hello 337 00:15:56,730 --> 00:15:53,170 listeners and welcome to dr. ecchi 338 00:15:58,290 --> 00:15:56,740 reports well it is said that disasters 339 00:16:00,630 --> 00:15:58,300 bring out the best and the worst in 340 00:16:02,700 --> 00:16:00,640 people and sadly there has been plenty 341 00:16:06,030 --> 00:16:02,710 of opportunity to witness this play out 342 00:16:07,830 --> 00:16:06,040 of late in Australia the East Coast 343 00:16:10,170 --> 00:16:07,840 experienced the worst floods since 344 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:10,180 nineteen seventy-four quickly followed 345 00:16:15,329 --> 00:16:12,970 by Cyclone Yasi ravaging as far inland 346 00:16:16,470 --> 00:16:15,339 as Mount aiza then there was the 347 00:16:19,500 --> 00:16:16,480 terrible earthquake in christchurch 348 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:19,510 where many died across the pond and then 349 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:22,530 on friday a massive 9.0 earthquake 350 00:16:27,210 --> 00:16:25,330 exploded under the pacific ocean sending 351 00:16:30,390 --> 00:16:27,220 a huge tsunami smashing into the 352 00:16:32,579 --> 00:16:30,400 northeast coast of japan the japanese 353 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:32,589 are suffering terribly and not just 354 00:16:36,780 --> 00:16:34,450 because tens of thousands of missing 355 00:16:38,490 --> 00:16:36,790 feared dead but they also face bitter 356 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:38,500 cold as snow is dumped on the 357 00:16:43,230 --> 00:16:41,650 devastation and even worse for nuclear 358 00:16:45,060 --> 00:16:43,240 reactors which took the brunt of the 359 00:16:47,730 --> 00:16:45,070 tsunami and earthquake are now at risk 360 00:16:49,950 --> 00:16:47,740 of meltdown although the reactors are 361 00:16:52,620 --> 00:16:49,960 built to withstand earthquakes the 362 00:16:55,290 --> 00:16:52,630 combination of such a huge event coupled 363 00:16:57,570 --> 00:16:55,300 with a massive tsunami wiped out backup 364 00:17:00,720 --> 00:16:57,580 systems required to keep the fuel rods 365 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:00,730 cool as water levels dropped the rods 366 00:17:05,670 --> 00:17:02,770 heated up some producing enough hydrogen 367 00:17:07,679 --> 00:17:05,680 gas to cause explosions and subsequently 368 00:17:10,980 --> 00:17:07,689 the release of radioactive gas into the 369 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:10,990 air the manufacturers are madly dumping 370 00:17:15,150 --> 00:17:12,850 seawater from helicopters onto the 371 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:15,160 rapidly heating fuel rods and as a 372 00:17:19,410 --> 00:17:17,410 precaution have set up an exclusion zone 373 00:17:22,470 --> 00:17:19,420 in a 30-kilometer radius around the 374 00:17:24,390 --> 00:17:22,480 plant however if meltdown cannot be 375 00:17:26,100 --> 00:17:24,400 prevented there is a risk of the 376 00:17:29,010 --> 00:17:26,110 days of radioactive gas clouds which 377 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:29,020 could drift into populated areas so 378 00:17:33,660 --> 00:17:31,810 enter the vultures several days ago 379 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:33,670 Australian skeptics Vice President 380 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:35,890 Richard Saunders circulated an email 381 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:38,410 from homeopathy plus describing 382 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:40,330 homeopathic remedies for radiation 383 00:17:45,300 --> 00:17:43,210 sickness and poisoning the email 384 00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:45,310 described how homeopathy offered quote 385 00:17:50,250 --> 00:17:47,710 key remedies that have been used either 386 00:17:53,670 --> 00:17:50,260 in research or historically to prevent 387 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:53,680 or treat radiation poisoning the email 388 00:17:59,460 --> 00:17:56,410 dated March thirteenth states quote if 389 00:18:01,590 --> 00:17:59,470 at risk of radiation exposure any one of 390 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:01,600 the above remedies may be taken as an 391 00:18:07,980 --> 00:18:04,090 emergency response three times a day in 392 00:18:11,570 --> 00:18:07,990 a 30 C potency the remedies referred to 393 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:11,580 a cadmium iodide cadmium sulfurous 394 00:18:17,940 --> 00:18:15,250 strontium carbonic command x-rays that's 395 00:18:21,390 --> 00:18:17,950 right listeners homeopathic preparations 396 00:18:23,430 --> 00:18:21,400 of x-rays but before you get worried 397 00:18:25,170 --> 00:18:23,440 that more x-rays might not be the best 398 00:18:27,510 --> 00:18:25,180 thing to treat radiation burns or 399 00:18:30,690 --> 00:18:27,520 sickness let's take a look at precisely 400 00:18:33,060 --> 00:18:30,700 what 30 C means this is a common 401 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:33,070 homeopathic dilution in fact one you 402 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:34,930 might find on your local pharmacy shelf 403 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:37,330 and means the original substance has 404 00:18:43,860 --> 00:18:40,210 been diluted 10 to the power of 60 times 405 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:43,870 so in simple terms that means 10 with 60 406 00:18:49,620 --> 00:18:48,010 zeros at a dilution this great in order 407 00:18:52,710 --> 00:18:49,630 for you to come into contact with even 408 00:18:55,250 --> 00:18:52,720 one molecule of the original x-rays you 409 00:18:58,980 --> 00:18:55,260 would have to give two billion doses per 410 00:19:03,030 --> 00:18:58,990 second to six billion people for four 411 00:19:05,670 --> 00:19:03,040 billion years or to put it another way a 412 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:05,680 30-seat dilution is the equivalent of 413 00:19:11,220 --> 00:19:08,530 placing one mil of liquid into a cube of 414 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:11,230 water measuring a million million 415 00:19:17,250 --> 00:19:14,410 million meters per side clearly 416 00:19:20,250 --> 00:19:17,260 impossible and preposterous but there's 417 00:19:22,500 --> 00:19:20,260 more quote if radiation sickness has 418 00:19:24,630 --> 00:19:22,510 developed your homeopath is the best 419 00:19:27,090 --> 00:19:24,640 person to advise on treatment dosages 420 00:19:28,980 --> 00:19:27,100 and potencies as these will depend on 421 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:28,990 the symptoms you are experiencing and 422 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:32,530 their severity but not just any 423 00:19:36,810 --> 00:19:34,690 homeopath apparently some people are 424 00:19:38,660 --> 00:19:36,820 confused by the number of remedies being 425 00:19:41,010 --> 00:19:38,670 offered by different homie 426 00:19:43,650 --> 00:19:41,020 apparently they can't even agree amongst 427 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:43,660 themselves but never fear homeopathy 428 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:46,410 plus will only recommend you quote 429 00:19:51,450 --> 00:19:48,610 remedies whose effects are also 430 00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:51,460 supported by research and/or confirmed 431 00:19:56,220 --> 00:19:54,370 with clinical successes as reported by 432 00:19:58,470 --> 00:19:56,230 doctors and physicians dealing with 433 00:20:02,970 --> 00:19:58,480 radiation exposure during the great 434 00:20:04,470 --> 00:20:02,980 world wars thank goodness for that but 435 00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:04,480 what if you can't get your hands on a 436 00:20:09,690 --> 00:20:06,370 super dilute one to the bajillion 437 00:20:11,550 --> 00:20:09,700 dilution of x-rays well no problem you 438 00:20:13,890 --> 00:20:11,560 can take a more concentrated dose of 439 00:20:17,340 --> 00:20:13,900 x-rays but you just need to take it more 440 00:20:20,190 --> 00:20:17,350 frequently yes you heard me correctly if 441 00:20:22,010 --> 00:20:20,200 the preparation is more concentrated you 442 00:20:24,390 --> 00:20:22,020 just need to take it more often 443 00:20:27,330 --> 00:20:24,400 according to the helpful homeopathy plus 444 00:20:29,490 --> 00:20:27,340 newsletter this means quote taking a 445 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:29,500 more frequent dose for lower potencies 446 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:32,290 of four to six times a day and a less 447 00:20:37,890 --> 00:20:34,330 frequent dose one to two times a day for 448 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:37,900 higher potencies now this might seem a 449 00:20:41,670 --> 00:20:39,610 bit confusing but this is because 450 00:20:44,820 --> 00:20:41,680 homeopaths believe that the more dilute 451 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:44,830 the preparation the stronger it is no 452 00:20:48,690 --> 00:20:46,510 folks you couldn't make this stuff up 453 00:20:51,030 --> 00:20:48,700 well actually you could but no one would 454 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:51,040 believe you so as you might expect 455 00:20:55,260 --> 00:20:53,170 homeopathy plus have copped a little bit 456 00:20:57,930 --> 00:20:55,270 of flack for this irresponsible nonsense 457 00:21:01,080 --> 00:20:57,940 the story was reported in the Australian 458 00:21:03,660 --> 00:21:01,090 newspaper on the punch website by Phil 459 00:21:05,850 --> 00:21:03,670 Plait in his bad astronomy blog by Brian 460 00:21:08,340 --> 00:21:05,860 Dunning on skeptic blog and by Ben 461 00:21:10,980 --> 00:21:08,350 Radford Adam creswell from the 462 00:21:12,810 --> 00:21:10,990 Australian newspaper asked some experts 463 00:21:15,060 --> 00:21:12,820 about the claims that homeopathy can 464 00:21:18,690 --> 00:21:15,070 treat radiation burns and got a 465 00:21:21,060 --> 00:21:18,700 predictable response Victorian GP Bill 466 00:21:24,090 --> 00:21:21,070 Williams who is also a nuclear safety 467 00:21:26,370 --> 00:21:24,100 experts said there was quote absolutely 468 00:21:29,070 --> 00:21:26,380 no evidence for any of the remedies 469 00:21:33,150 --> 00:21:29,080 being promoted by homeopathy plus being 470 00:21:35,670 --> 00:21:33,160 useful in treating radiation sickness he 471 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:35,680 continued it's not really very helpful 472 00:21:39,990 --> 00:21:37,570 for people to be promoting treatments in 473 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:40,000 a dire situation like this which could 474 00:21:45,420 --> 00:21:42,490 give people false comfort dr. Williams 475 00:21:47,460 --> 00:21:45,430 said nuclear radiologist Peter Karim 476 00:21:51,390 --> 00:21:47,470 askis said the claims that were made by 477 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:51,400 homeopathy plus were quote rubbish such 478 00:21:54,180 --> 00:21:52,450 claims are dangerous 479 00:21:57,840 --> 00:21:54,190 in that it might compromise proper 480 00:21:59,190 --> 00:21:57,850 treatment and give false security but 481 00:22:01,620 --> 00:21:59,200 sadly this is not the first time 482 00:22:04,230 --> 00:22:01,630 homeopathy plus have spouted rubbish on 483 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:04,240 the unsuspecting public the homeopathy 484 00:22:09,540 --> 00:22:06,490 plus newsletter and clinic are both run 485 00:22:11,370 --> 00:22:09,550 by homeopath Fran Sheffield who as an 486 00:22:13,980 --> 00:22:11,380 aside is also good mates with the 487 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:13,990 Australian anti-vaccination Network well 488 00:22:18,540 --> 00:22:16,570 birds of a feather and all that in 2010 489 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:18,550 the Therapeutic Goods Administration the 490 00:22:23,790 --> 00:22:21,490 TGA instructed miss Sheffield to remove 491 00:22:25,770 --> 00:22:23,800 claims that homeopathy was an effective 492 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:25,780 substitute for vaccinations from her 493 00:22:31,350 --> 00:22:28,770 website and also publish a retraction 494 00:22:33,500 --> 00:22:31,360 she refused to do so on the grounds that 495 00:22:36,420 --> 00:22:33,510 she didn't agree with the decision and 496 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:36,430 as with approximately thirty percent of 497 00:22:41,010 --> 00:22:38,410 those served with a tsg a retraction 498 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:41,020 order nothing was done to enforce the 499 00:22:48,420 --> 00:22:45,850 finding in fact the TGA told ABC's late 500 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:48,430 line program that no legal action has 501 00:22:53,220 --> 00:22:50,650 ever been taken over non-compliance 502 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:53,230 which makes the complaint system look 503 00:22:58,020 --> 00:22:56,050 like a complete farce and indeed 504 00:23:00,210 --> 00:22:58,030 following the Lateline report Fran 505 00:23:02,100 --> 00:23:00,220 Sheffield jumped a flotilla of sharks 506 00:23:05,700 --> 00:23:02,110 and published a piece on her website 507 00:23:07,980 --> 00:23:05,710 called quite late line can homeopathy 508 00:23:10,950 --> 00:23:07,990 safely protect against epidemic and 509 00:23:13,940 --> 00:23:10,960 infectious diseases can homeopathy treat 510 00:23:16,590 --> 00:23:13,950 serious diseases such as aids and cancer 511 00:23:18,300 --> 00:23:16,600 it was a veritable gish gallop of 512 00:23:20,850 --> 00:23:18,310 references purporting to show that 513 00:23:23,550 --> 00:23:20,860 indeed homeopathy can treat aids and 514 00:23:25,110 --> 00:23:23,560 cancers so not only did miss Sheffield 515 00:23:27,390 --> 00:23:25,120 refused to remove false and misleading 516 00:23:30,150 --> 00:23:27,400 information about vaccinations from her 517 00:23:33,780 --> 00:23:30,160 website when challenged she simply added 518 00:23:36,510 --> 00:23:33,790 more a few months prior she also sent 519 00:23:38,250 --> 00:23:36,520 out an email alert entitled homeopathy 520 00:23:41,700 --> 00:23:38,260 as good as chemotherapy for breast 521 00:23:43,380 --> 00:23:41,710 cancer and non-toxic which was based on 522 00:23:46,260 --> 00:23:43,390 a paper published in the international 523 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:46,270 journal of oncology firstly the paper 524 00:23:51,750 --> 00:23:49,090 had not made such a claim it was only a 525 00:23:53,940 --> 00:23:51,760 study in cells and secondly it was a 526 00:23:57,600 --> 00:23:53,950 terrible piece of bad science chock-full 527 00:23:59,610 --> 00:23:57,610 of dodgy data so much so that one of the 528 00:24:01,670 --> 00:23:59,620 author's left a comment on my blog where 529 00:24:03,870 --> 00:24:01,680 I had taken the paper to pieces 530 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:03,880 dissociating herself from the work and 531 00:24:08,470 --> 00:24:06,290 saying quote I asked 532 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:08,480 be included because I did not think it 533 00:24:13,990 --> 00:24:11,810 was a sound study still French Sheffield 534 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:14,000 continues to claim that magic vibrating 535 00:24:18,790 --> 00:24:16,610 water can cure everything in a flyer 536 00:24:21,730 --> 00:24:18,800 sent out for a workshop last year she 537 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:21,740 stated quote homeopathy works for autism 538 00:24:27,550 --> 00:24:24,650 infections anxiety allergies insomnia 539 00:24:30,610 --> 00:24:27,560 coughs and colds depression irritable 540 00:24:32,290 --> 00:24:30,620 bowel syndrome and much much more sorry 541 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:32,300 Fran but there is no evidence that 542 00:24:37,180 --> 00:24:34,610 homeopathy works for anything except 543 00:24:38,860 --> 00:24:37,190 maybe for hangovers I love a nice cold 544 00:24:40,870 --> 00:24:38,870 drink of water when I'm hungover and 545 00:24:42,790 --> 00:24:40,880 certainly the claim that homeopathy 546 00:24:45,940 --> 00:24:42,800 works for radiation poisoning or 547 00:24:47,740 --> 00:24:45,950 illnesses is complete rubbish you can 548 00:24:49,420 --> 00:24:47,750 find the accompanying blog of this 549 00:24:51,490 --> 00:24:49,430 week's dr. Richie reports on the 550 00:24:55,270 --> 00:24:51,500 official blog of this skeptic zone at 551 00:25:01,060 --> 00:24:55,280 skeptics book calm and until next time 552 00:25:02,890 --> 00:25:01,070 this has been dr. Richie reports dr. 553 00:25:05,650 --> 00:25:02,900 Rachel Dunlop is one of Australia's 554 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:05,660 foremost media commentators in matters 555 00:25:09,610 --> 00:25:07,090 concerning so-called alternative 556 00:25:13,330 --> 00:25:09,620 medicine she has appeared on national 557 00:25:15,730 --> 00:25:13,340 radio and national television dr. 'he is 558 00:25:19,660 --> 00:25:15,740 available for interviews and you can 559 00:25:26,370 --> 00:25:19,670 contact her at rachel at skeptic zone 560 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:28,750 yeah aight guys i was talking to Richard 561 00:25:32,740 --> 00:25:30,650 Saunders isn't it alright he said if we 562 00:25:35,140 --> 00:25:32,750 record a trailer for our podcast 563 00:25:36,940 --> 00:25:35,150 skeptics with a que he declared on the 564 00:25:38,230 --> 00:25:36,950 initial last nice of him that's very 565 00:25:39,670 --> 00:25:38,240 generous it's pretty good i'm not sure 566 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:39,680 what we could do though I mean well 567 00:25:43,990 --> 00:25:41,210 suppose you tell people the shows about 568 00:25:45,970 --> 00:25:44,000 but it's basically this yeah like yeah 569 00:25:47,650 --> 00:25:45,980 but you know we talk about science and 570 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:47,660 skepticism and things that's that's true 571 00:25:50,770 --> 00:25:49,010 as fuzzy you mentioned the website 572 00:25:52,690 --> 00:25:50,780 address not merseyside skeptics talk 573 00:25:54,340 --> 00:25:52,700 don't you k yeah yeah just like searches 574 00:25:56,770 --> 00:25:54,350 nineteen's oh and then we could end with 575 00:26:08,160 --> 00:25:56,780 like a big song like the skeptics with 576 00:26:23,650 --> 00:26:13,650 is food for thought it's reality bites 577 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:23,660 with Java and Ben amoud statutory 578 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:25,730 authority Food Standards Australia New 579 00:26:30,010 --> 00:26:28,010 Zealand issued an urgent recall this 580 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:30,020 week a popular slimming product the 581 00:26:33,940 --> 00:26:32,330 Latin seed this followed urgent advice 582 00:26:36,580 --> 00:26:33,950 from the New South Wales Food Authority 583 00:26:39,130 --> 00:26:36,590 the state government agency charged with 584 00:26:41,820 --> 00:26:39,140 ensuring food safety and quality on this 585 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:41,830 and another similar product slim seed 586 00:26:46,030 --> 00:26:43,970 testing has shown that the products 587 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:46,040 labeled as earlier I smell you Cana 588 00:26:51,130 --> 00:26:48,890 commonly known as candlelight actually 589 00:26:54,070 --> 00:26:51,140 contain highly toxic the veterinary 590 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:54,080 foliar ortho vet here peruviana also 591 00:26:58,690 --> 00:26:56,570 known as yellow oleander this highly 592 00:27:00,850 --> 00:26:58,700 toxic species contains cardiac 593 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:00,860 glycosides and is listed in the Food 594 00:27:05,830 --> 00:27:02,930 Standards code under prohibited and 595 00:27:07,540 --> 00:27:05,840 restricted plants and fungi listeners 596 00:27:10,180 --> 00:27:07,550 may be familiar with another of the 597 00:27:13,030 --> 00:27:10,190 glycosides digitalis also known as 598 00:27:16,270 --> 00:27:13,040 foxglove symptoms of poisoning include 599 00:27:18,630 --> 00:27:16,280 nausea vomiting diarrhea coma 600 00:27:21,070 --> 00:27:18,640 convulsions and cardiac arrhythmias 601 00:27:23,410 --> 00:27:21,080 interestingly a side effect of these 602 00:27:25,450 --> 00:27:23,420 substances is decreased appetite and 603 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:25,460 people have been known to use them to 604 00:27:30,190 --> 00:27:28,370 aid weight loss the Food Authority has 605 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:30,200 requested that sale of the products be 606 00:27:36,100 --> 00:27:32,410 discontinued and the products withdrawn 607 00:27:37,810 --> 00:27:36,110 fines of 1760 dollars 608 00:27:39,850 --> 00:27:37,820 have been issued to balanced opinions 609 00:27:42,130 --> 00:27:39,860 proprietary limited and slim seed 610 00:27:43,930 --> 00:27:42,140 Australia proprietary limited and both 611 00:27:46,630 --> 00:27:43,940 have been listed on the authorities name 612 00:27:48,340 --> 00:27:46,640 and shame register both were found to 613 00:27:49,870 --> 00:27:48,350 have breached the Food Standards code in 614 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:49,880 a relation to health and weight loss 615 00:27:54,490 --> 00:27:52,730 claims made about the products these are 616 00:27:56,470 --> 00:27:54,500 the latest in a long line of companies 617 00:27:59,799 --> 00:27:56,480 to be investigated by the authority for 618 00:28:01,960 --> 00:27:59,809 similar breaches in March last year pure 619 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:01,970 natural health proprietary limited the 620 00:28:06,100 --> 00:28:03,890 company behind the popular lemon detox 621 00:28:08,890 --> 00:28:06,110 diet was fined by the authority for 622 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:08,900 similar breaches at the time of 623 00:28:13,210 --> 00:28:11,210 recording the website of Latin seed is 624 00:28:15,700 --> 00:28:13,220 directing to a recall notice from the 625 00:28:17,590 --> 00:28:15,710 company no mention is made on the site 626 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:17,600 of the potential dangers of the product 627 00:28:23,049 --> 00:28:20,330 however an earlier version of the site 628 00:28:25,150 --> 00:28:23,059 states one hundred percent natural no 629 00:28:27,820 --> 00:28:25,160 harmful chemicals artificial colors or 630 00:28:30,100 --> 00:28:27,830 preservatives added the Latin seed is a 631 00:28:32,409 --> 00:28:30,110 product of thorough quality control and 632 00:28:34,330 --> 00:28:32,419 is harvested classified and carefully 633 00:28:37,060 --> 00:28:34,340 selected to guarantee the integrity and 634 00:28:39,970 --> 00:28:37,070 effectiveness following up on a previous 635 00:28:41,350 --> 00:28:39,980 story the West Australian newspaper this 636 00:28:43,450 --> 00:28:41,360 week reported on the australian 637 00:28:46,090 --> 00:28:43,460 competition and consumer Commission's 638 00:28:47,740 --> 00:28:46,100 case against green gram of the spiritual 639 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:47,750 healing association of western australia 640 00:28:53,289 --> 00:28:50,690 the case has been dealt a blow up to 641 00:28:55,030 --> 00:28:53,299 federal judge antony see AAPIs refused 642 00:28:57,340 --> 00:28:55,040 to grant injunctions until further 643 00:28:59,320 --> 00:28:57,350 evidence is presented justice siapa 644 00:29:01,750 --> 00:28:59,330 supreet it concerns about the 645 00:29:03,130 --> 00:29:01,760 vulnerability of people with cancer but 646 00:29:04,690 --> 00:29:03,140 commented that the case had the 647 00:29:07,270 --> 00:29:04,700 potential to blur the lines between 648 00:29:09,310 --> 00:29:07,280 issues of trade practice and spiritual 649 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:09,320 belief treatments offered by the group 650 00:29:13,810 --> 00:29:11,210 include walking into the water and 651 00:29:15,940 --> 00:29:13,820 emerging like Jesus with claims of 652 00:29:17,799 --> 00:29:15,950 hundred percent effectiveness in curing 653 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:17,809 cancer the judge made comparisons 654 00:29:22,330 --> 00:29:19,970 between Catholic belief in our lady of 655 00:29:25,510 --> 00:29:22,340 lourdes and similar faith-based beliefs 656 00:29:27,340 --> 00:29:25,520 about miracle cures stating can you ever 657 00:29:29,860 --> 00:29:27,350 find that the conduct is misleading if 658 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:29,870 it's founded on a representation that I 659 00:29:34,750 --> 00:29:32,570 can if you believe the case has been 660 00:29:47,250 --> 00:29:34,760 adjourned until the first of April this 661 00:29:50,919 --> 00:29:49,900 hi this is michael cruz from the 662 00:29:52,870 --> 00:29:50,929 committee for the advancement of 663 00:29:55,270 --> 00:29:52,880 scientific skepticism at the center for 664 00:29:56,740 --> 00:29:55,280 inquiry canada Cass is committed to 665 00:29:58,660 --> 00:29:56,750 critically examining scientific 666 00:30:01,120 --> 00:29:58,670 technological and medical claims in the 667 00:30:03,490 --> 00:30:01,130 public forum across Canada working with 668 00:30:05,289 --> 00:30:03,500 our expert advisors local cfi branches 669 00:30:06,820 --> 00:30:05,299 and other skeptical groups Cass 670 00:30:09,419 --> 00:30:06,830 confronts the peddlers as pseudoscience 671 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:09,429 with evidence-based scientific inquiry 672 00:30:13,990 --> 00:30:11,690 2010 has been a watershed year for the 673 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:14,000 sceptical movement in Canada and in 2011 674 00:30:18,220 --> 00:30:15,890 cast will continue fighting bad science 675 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:18,230 in the media and the government if you 676 00:30:20,799 --> 00:30:19,490 would like to become involved in the 677 00:30:22,330 --> 00:30:20,809 fight to promote critical thinking in 678 00:30:23,860 --> 00:30:22,340 Canada or if you have a concern about 679 00:30:26,049 --> 00:30:23,870 the spread of pseudoscience in the 680 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:26,059 Canadian media please contact us at 681 00:30:31,690 --> 00:30:28,970 casts at cfi canada CA you can also 682 00:30:33,730 --> 00:30:31,700 follow us on twitter at cfi casts and on 683 00:30:36,610 --> 00:30:33,740 facebook at cass at center for inquiry 684 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:36,620 canada casts fighting pseudoscience 685 00:30:54,919 --> 00:30:52,850 well the recent tragic events in in 686 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:54,929 Japan and the last few days cause me to 687 00:30:59,090 --> 00:30:56,490 think about an editorial are right for 688 00:31:01,730 --> 00:30:59,100 the skeptic after similarly tragic 689 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:01,740 events back in 2004 this is what I said 690 00:31:05,539 --> 00:31:03,210 then and I don't think there's any 691 00:31:07,460 --> 00:31:05,549 difference has happened in the way we 692 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:07,470 think about things in the intervening 693 00:31:13,250 --> 00:31:11,490 few years who to blame few people could 694 00:31:15,260 --> 00:31:13,260 have remained unaffected by the tragic 695 00:31:17,149 --> 00:31:15,270 events that began in the Indian Ocean of 696 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:17,159 Sumatra on the morning of December the 697 00:31:22,850 --> 00:31:20,850 26th last year the tsunami profit while 698 00:31:24,860 --> 00:31:22,860 the shifting of tectonic plates under 699 00:31:27,230 --> 00:31:24,870 the sea cut short a quarter of a million 700 00:31:29,899 --> 00:31:27,240 lives ranking it as one of the most 701 00:31:32,060 --> 00:31:29,909 lethal and natural disasters in the 702 00:31:33,830 --> 00:31:32,070 entire history of our planet that this 703 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:33,840 tragedy touched the hearts of many in 704 00:31:37,100 --> 00:31:35,130 Australia is attested by the 705 00:31:39,230 --> 00:31:37,110 unprecedented generosity of individuals 706 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:39,240 governments and organizations were all 707 00:31:43,730 --> 00:31:41,610 sorts in donating to relief efforts and 708 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:43,740 by the dedication of those who went the 709 00:31:47,529 --> 00:31:45,690 item distressed victims this generosity 710 00:31:50,149 --> 00:31:47,539 shows the better part of human nature 711 00:31:53,020 --> 00:31:50,159 our certain religious issues have 712 00:31:54,980 --> 00:31:53,030 emerged of a not so benign evidence from 713 00:31:57,440 --> 00:31:54,990 neurophysiological research indicates 714 00:32:00,169 --> 00:31:57,450 that our genetic makeup makes Homo 715 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:00,179 sapiens receptive to abstract beliefs 716 00:32:05,450 --> 00:32:03,330 that have no rational foundation this 717 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:05,460 faith usually manifests itself as 718 00:32:09,770 --> 00:32:07,730 religion but includes various 719 00:32:11,919 --> 00:32:09,780 totalitarian political philosophies that 720 00:32:14,210 --> 00:32:11,929 emerged during the 20th century which 721 00:32:17,270 --> 00:32:14,220 while they ostensibly eschewed 722 00:32:19,190 --> 00:32:17,280 supernatural causes never lest embraced 723 00:32:22,299 --> 00:32:19,200 many of the trappings and certainly the 724 00:32:24,409 --> 00:32:22,309 dogmatism of religion in the replication 725 00:32:27,049 --> 00:32:24,419 observation tends to support this 726 00:32:28,730 --> 00:32:27,059 conclusion throughout history religions 727 00:32:30,799 --> 00:32:28,740 have emerged from all cultures in all 728 00:32:32,570 --> 00:32:30,809 times and most of them have died out or 729 00:32:36,049 --> 00:32:32,580 evolved with the passing of the cultures 730 00:32:37,850 --> 00:32:36,059 or of the time simple logic dictates 731 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:37,860 that the beliefs of all religions cannot 732 00:32:42,919 --> 00:32:40,770 possibly be right on the other hand it 733 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:42,929 is an impeccably rational proposition 734 00:32:48,770 --> 00:32:45,690 that all of them could be wrong there is 735 00:32:51,289 --> 00:32:48,780 no evidence to suggest that faith plan X 736 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:51,299 has a better explanation of the 737 00:32:55,909 --> 00:32:53,730 inexplicable when this faith brand why 738 00:32:58,610 --> 00:32:55,919 there is far more persuasive evidence 739 00:33:02,600 --> 00:32:58,620 that all religions as constructively 740 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:02,610 human mind a primer fell ability this 741 00:33:06,980 --> 00:33:04,770 proposed human predisposition to believe 742 00:33:09,530 --> 00:33:06,990 and to invent things in which to believe 743 00:33:11,630 --> 00:33:09,540 has like most human institutions 744 00:33:14,030 --> 00:33:11,640 resulted in both sublime benefits and 745 00:33:16,010 --> 00:33:14,040 grave thoughts they can be little doubt 746 00:33:18,710 --> 00:33:16,020 religious devotion has inspired 747 00:33:20,810 --> 00:33:18,720 wonderful art music architecture and 748 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:20,820 literature without which the world would 749 00:33:26,030 --> 00:33:24,210 be a decidedly poor a place North can 750 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:26,040 there be much doubt that religions can 751 00:33:30,380 --> 00:33:28,410 provide comfort to their adherence or 752 00:33:32,900 --> 00:33:30,390 inspire great acts of kindness and 753 00:33:34,940 --> 00:33:32,910 sacrifice but religion and similar 754 00:33:38,030 --> 00:33:34,950 dogmatic beliefs also has a dark side 755 00:33:40,159 --> 00:33:38,040 with sectarian inspired conflict war and 756 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:40,169 genocide romania's constant throughout 757 00:33:44,060 --> 00:33:42,210 human history thus we have seen 758 00:33:46,850 --> 00:33:44,070 statements from clerics for various 759 00:33:49,490 --> 00:33:46,860 faiths seeking to justify how such 760 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:49,500 violent natural axles at tsunami fitted 761 00:33:53,750 --> 00:33:51,330 with their concept of their particular 762 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:53,760 deity the tsunami was immaculately 763 00:33:58,669 --> 00:33:56,610 ecumenical in its effects killing tens 764 00:34:02,150 --> 00:33:58,679 of thousands of Muslims Buddhists Hindus 765 00:34:05,390 --> 00:34:02,160 Christians Jews seeks adherents of many 766 00:34:07,789 --> 00:34:05,400 other faiths sex you Age spirituality as 767 00:34:10,669 --> 00:34:07,799 well as no doubt many skeptics atheists 768 00:34:12,710 --> 00:34:10,679 agnostics illness and rationals who are 769 00:34:14,270 --> 00:34:12,720 lucky enough to be in its path it did 770 00:34:16,639 --> 00:34:14,280 this without regard to their religious 771 00:34:18,619 --> 00:34:16,649 political or other affiliations age sex 772 00:34:20,810 --> 00:34:18,629 state of health or well they were good 773 00:34:23,090 --> 00:34:20,820 or bad people that this caused great 774 00:34:25,190 --> 00:34:23,100 intellectual discomfort the cleric was 775 00:34:28,369 --> 00:34:25,200 evident in a tortured logic they sought 776 00:34:30,830 --> 00:34:28,379 to use in their rationalizations to the 777 00:34:33,260 --> 00:34:30,840 obvious skeptic in question how could 778 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:33,270 any hypothetical omniscient omnipresent 779 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:36,330 and benevolent deity allow such 780 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:39,090 indiscriminate killing the answers range 781 00:34:44,510 --> 00:34:41,970 from punishment was trained from the 782 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:44,520 true car including newborn babies 783 00:34:49,310 --> 00:34:47,490 presumably to the grace of God is shown 784 00:34:52,010 --> 00:34:49,320 in the generosity of the response from 785 00:34:53,990 --> 00:34:52,020 people surely any deity worth his salt 786 00:34:56,510 --> 00:34:54,000 could have found all this tragic method 787 00:34:58,840 --> 00:34:56,520 of demonstrating it but by far the most 788 00:35:01,760 --> 00:34:58,850 common response was couched in terms of 789 00:35:04,700 --> 00:35:01,770 God's ways are not our ways and we 790 00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:04,710 cannot know the mind of God which might 791 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:06,450 have sounded more sincere had it not 792 00:35:10,340 --> 00:35:08,010 issued from the mouths of those his 793 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:10,350 lives and livelihoods were precisely 794 00:35:13,740 --> 00:35:12,090 dedicated to promulgating and 795 00:35:17,310 --> 00:35:13,750 interpreting the action 796 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:17,320 words of God in passing several of them 797 00:35:22,980 --> 00:35:20,170 more vital clerics chose to try those of 798 00:35:24,810 --> 00:35:22,990 a skeptics atheist NL who do not 799 00:35:26,940 --> 00:35:24,820 subscribe to their nations of Daddy's 800 00:35:29,220 --> 00:35:26,950 implying that we could find no comfort 801 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:29,230 in our scientific view the world in the 802 00:35:33,990 --> 00:35:32,050 face of catastrophe it might surprise 803 00:35:35,790 --> 00:35:34,000 them to learn that what rational people 804 00:35:38,340 --> 00:35:35,800 the Royal I from science is not comfort 805 00:35:39,720 --> 00:35:38,350 but understanding part of that 806 00:35:41,850 --> 00:35:39,730 understanding is that we live on a 807 00:35:44,910 --> 00:35:41,860 dynamic planet where natural forces 808 00:35:47,100 --> 00:35:44,920 reign supreme that these insensate 809 00:35:49,830 --> 00:35:47,110 forces are neither than I normal I'm I 810 00:35:53,610 --> 00:35:49,840 just are a natural disaster is just that 811 00:35:56,190 --> 00:35:53,620 natural sometimes no one is to blame not 812 00:35:58,470 --> 00:35:56,200 even God it is not the rationalist who 813 00:36:01,260 --> 00:35:58,480 is discomforted by such an occurrence it 814 00:36:03,420 --> 00:36:01,270 is those who strive painfully to justify 815 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:03,430 the incompatibility of a benevolent body 816 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:07,210 with the horrific events on a personal 817 00:36:11,670 --> 00:36:09,490 level if not comfort I did derive some 818 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:11,680 satisfaction when the service in which I 819 00:36:15,750 --> 00:36:13,450 spent 15 of my younger years the 820 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:15,760 Honorable AF was first on the ground 821 00:36:20,550 --> 00:36:18,370 carrying a dose imatra in 48 hours of 822 00:36:23,790 --> 00:36:20,560 the disaster where it continued to 823 00:36:25,260 --> 00:36:23,800 provide assistance today if any comfort 824 00:36:27,990 --> 00:36:25,270 comes and comes from seeing people 825 00:36:31,050 --> 00:36:28,000 selflessly doing good when other people 826 00:36:33,030 --> 00:36:31,060 are in need in this case such people are 827 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:33,040 many and they come from right across the 828 00:36:47,329 --> 00:36:45,169 watching the scenes from Japan over the 829 00:36:48,949 --> 00:36:47,339 last few days listen to religious 830 00:36:51,229 --> 00:36:48,959 nutcases blame the earthquake and 831 00:36:53,229 --> 00:36:51,239 tsunami on the wrath of God reminded me 832 00:36:55,099 --> 00:36:53,239 of something I wrote in early 2005 833 00:36:56,779 --> 00:36:55,109 following the earthquake to the west of 834 00:36:58,249 --> 00:36:56,789 Indonesia and the subsequent tsunami 835 00:37:00,679 --> 00:36:58,259 that affected countries around the 836 00:37:02,749 --> 00:37:00,689 Indian Ocean is just as topic on the 837 00:37:05,569 --> 00:37:02,759 hours at most five years ago on November 838 00:37:06,949 --> 00:37:05,579 the first 1755 an earthquake occurred on 839 00:37:09,739 --> 00:37:06,959 the floor of the Atlantic Ocean off the 840 00:37:11,689 --> 00:37:09,749 coast of Portugal an estimated twenty 841 00:37:13,939 --> 00:37:11,699 thousand people died within minutes as 842 00:37:15,829 --> 00:37:13,949 buildings collapsed in Lisbon and about 843 00:37:17,689 --> 00:37:15,839 forty thousand more diet is result of 844 00:37:19,579 --> 00:37:17,699 the tsunami wave which struck the city 845 00:37:22,249 --> 00:37:19,589 half an hour later and serves beyond 846 00:37:23,390 --> 00:37:22,259 ruins burn up the Tagus River the vast 847 00:37:24,529 --> 00:37:23,400 majority the dead would have been 848 00:37:27,859 --> 00:37:24,539 Christians they believed in the 849 00:37:30,529 --> 00:37:27,869 benevolent omnipotent God I December 26 850 00:37:32,179 --> 00:37:30,539 2004 North quake off the western tip of 851 00:37:33,769 --> 00:37:32,189 Indonesia sent a tsunami across the 852 00:37:35,390 --> 00:37:33,779 Indian Ocean which killed at least a 853 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:35,400 hundred and twenty-five thousand people 854 00:37:39,349 --> 00:37:37,650 immediately and count was more later of 855 00:37:41,870 --> 00:37:39,359 disease and starvation race ahead of the 856 00:37:44,269 --> 00:37:41,880 relief effort this wave was not selected 857 00:37:46,309 --> 00:37:44,279 for religion and Hindus Muslims Sikhs 858 00:37:47,989 --> 00:37:46,319 Buddhists Christians and Jews who 859 00:37:50,179 --> 00:37:47,999 eluding observant painful and blameless 860 00:37:52,279 --> 00:37:50,189 lives who swept away with the Atheist 861 00:37:53,870 --> 00:37:52,289 app estates and sinners following both 862 00:37:55,819 --> 00:37:53,880 of these events the question arose of 863 00:37:57,620 --> 00:37:55,829 how a benevolent non-dividend God could 864 00:37:59,149 --> 00:37:57,630 allow such things to happen one of the 865 00:38:00,799 --> 00:37:59,159 philosophical arguments against the 866 00:38:02,899 --> 00:38:00,809 existence of God it's always been based 867 00:38:04,189 --> 00:38:02,909 on the existence of evil this is easily 868 00:38:06,409 --> 00:38:04,199 countered nor most any religious 869 00:38:07,969 --> 00:38:06,419 tradition our ships and the attack on 870 00:38:10,249 --> 00:38:07,979 the world trade center will react to men 871 00:38:11,449 --> 00:38:10,259 who had fully chosen to commit evil the 872 00:38:13,759 --> 00:38:11,459 concept of sin has to allow the 873 00:38:15,890 --> 00:38:13,769 existence of sinners as of the concept 874 00:38:17,929 --> 00:38:15,900 of redemption if Simmons cannot choose 875 00:38:20,509 --> 00:38:17,939 to sin they also cannot choose to ask 876 00:38:22,309 --> 00:38:20,519 forgiveness for those sins the 877 00:38:25,069 --> 00:38:22,319 earthquake cannot however be explained 878 00:38:26,779 --> 00:38:25,079 away so easily a natural disaster which 879 00:38:28,159 --> 00:38:26,789 causes this much suffering can only 880 00:38:30,349 --> 00:38:28,169 happen because God wanted to do it 881 00:38:31,849 --> 00:38:30,359 because God could not stop it must be of 882 00:38:34,699 --> 00:38:31,859 course God didn't care if it happened or 883 00:38:36,169 --> 00:38:34,709 not if God wanted to do it there appears 884 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:36,179 to be no rational reason to punish good 885 00:38:40,189 --> 00:38:38,130 people with sinners in God can hardly 886 00:38:41,919 --> 00:38:40,199 describe is benevolent and a god he will 887 00:38:44,089 --> 00:38:41,929 explain Evelyn slacks a possible virtue 888 00:38:46,419 --> 00:38:44,099 and something more perfect and this God 889 00:38:48,499 --> 00:38:46,429 can be imagined this God is not God 890 00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:48,509 similarly if God could not stop the 891 00:38:51,890 --> 00:38:49,890 earthquake then God is not omnipotent 892 00:38:54,289 --> 00:38:51,900 and again like to virtually which an 893 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:54,299 existing God must have if God doesn't 894 00:38:56,300 --> 00:38:55,650 care about us then why should we care 895 00:38:59,090 --> 00:38:56,310 about him 896 00:39:01,640 --> 00:38:59,100 why does he need to exist in the first 897 00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:01,650 place over the days following the 2004 898 00:39:04,670 --> 00:39:03,450 earthquake I saw several religious 899 00:39:06,110 --> 00:39:04,680 figures trying to reconcile the 900 00:39:08,300 --> 00:39:06,120 thousands of deaths with their concept 901 00:39:09,830 --> 00:39:08,310 of God those who could be taken 902 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:09,840 seriously seem to be desperately 903 00:39:14,330 --> 00:39:11,610 preaching a synthesis / three options 904 00:39:15,890 --> 00:39:14,340 outlined above God had done this is a 905 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:15,900 way of punishing sinners and warning 906 00:39:19,430 --> 00:39:17,490 potential sinners it was unfortunate 907 00:39:21,590 --> 00:39:19,440 that the innocent had to suffer this was 908 00:39:22,730 --> 00:39:21,600 a burden expected of believers and God 909 00:39:25,460 --> 00:39:22,740 was sorry but things have to keep 910 00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:25,470 following some eternal plan it was this 911 00:39:29,240 --> 00:39:27,090 very form of sophistry which made me an 912 00:39:30,350 --> 00:39:29,250 atheist being asked to believe in 913 00:39:31,910 --> 00:39:30,360 creationism it pushed me out of 914 00:39:33,590 --> 00:39:31,920 organized religion long before that I 915 00:39:35,060 --> 00:39:33,600 can remember the precise moment when I 916 00:39:37,220 --> 00:39:35,070 came to the realization that I did not 917 00:39:39,110 --> 00:39:37,230 need a personal God we set my 918 00:39:40,940 --> 00:39:39,120 grandmother's funeral and the police was 919 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:40,950 desperately trying to explain how when I 920 00:39:44,600 --> 00:39:43,050 just world a person would lead an 921 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:44,610 unblemished and charitable life she had 922 00:39:47,180 --> 00:39:45,690 been stricken with the disease which 923 00:39:49,700 --> 00:39:47,190 caused her to spend the last year's our 924 00:39:51,110 --> 00:39:49,710 life in increasing pain he finally 925 00:39:52,370 --> 00:39:51,120 decided that she had taken the burden 926 00:39:54,020 --> 00:39:52,380 which rightly belong to sinners the 927 00:39:56,570 --> 00:39:54,030 Saints is supposed to do and his Jesus 928 00:39:57,860 --> 00:39:56,580 did a partially blasphemy of the idea 929 00:39:59,930 --> 00:39:57,870 that my grandmother was taking up their 930 00:40:01,820 --> 00:39:59,940 jerseys it swept off attack was that she 931 00:40:04,550 --> 00:40:01,830 had not chosen to be crippled God had 932 00:40:06,020 --> 00:40:04,560 done to all without asking I realized 933 00:40:07,430 --> 00:40:06,030 that a God who could do that is not the 934 00:40:09,620 --> 00:40:07,440 sort of God I needed to believe him I 935 00:40:10,610 --> 00:40:09,630 should have a point out but no problem 936 00:40:12,500 --> 00:40:10,620 with other people they want to believe 937 00:40:14,150 --> 00:40:12,510 in a personal God unless that belief 938 00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:14,160 leads to harm to others one of the 939 00:40:20,750 --> 00:40:16,170 differences between seven and 55 and 940 00:40:21,890 --> 00:40:20,760 2005 and even 2011 is that in 1755 there 941 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:21,900 was an Enlightenment going on across 942 00:40:26,360 --> 00:40:24,090 Europe if it will felt free to ask hard 943 00:40:27,890 --> 00:40:26,370 questions about God in his works even a 944 00:40:30,170 --> 00:40:27,900 fruity criticized religion the religious 945 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:30,180 bodies two and a half centuries later 946 00:40:34,100 --> 00:40:32,370 and since we're in the middle of an in 947 00:40:35,690 --> 00:40:34,110 darkened money where politeness 948 00:40:37,340 --> 00:40:35,700 political correctness and cultural 949 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:37,350 relativity restrict free criticism of 950 00:40:41,570 --> 00:40:40,290 religion during the 2004 election 951 00:40:43,670 --> 00:40:41,580 campaigns in the United States and 952 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:43,680 Australia both countries with explicit 953 00:40:47,810 --> 00:40:45,450 constitutional separation of church and 954 00:40:49,610 --> 00:40:47,820 state incumbent president and prime 955 00:40:50,900 --> 00:40:49,620 minister respectively actively courted 956 00:40:52,490 --> 00:40:50,910 the lunatic fringe of Christian 957 00:40:54,180 --> 00:40:52,500 fundamentalism and Oliver recruits their 958 00:40:55,950 --> 00:40:54,190 chances of re-election 959 00:40:57,810 --> 00:40:55,960 anyone who dare to suggest that 960 00:40:59,490 --> 00:40:57,820 fundamentalist Islam poses a threat and 961 00:41:01,320 --> 00:40:59,500 civilized societies as a cue to 962 00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:01,330 religious bigotry and racism as if 963 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:03,130 religion which is a option mental 964 00:41:07,740 --> 00:41:04,210 condition has anything to do with 965 00:41:09,090 --> 00:41:07,750 genetics when the tsunami exposed 966 00:41:11,340 --> 00:41:09,100 landmines buried in the fields of 967 00:41:12,810 --> 00:41:11,350 northern Sri Lanka no commentator made 968 00:41:14,610 --> 00:41:12,820 the point that those mines been placed 969 00:41:15,870 --> 00:41:14,620 there by people of one religion to kill 970 00:41:17,850 --> 00:41:15,880 among people with a different set of 971 00:41:19,290 --> 00:41:17,860 beliefs I was criticized for pointing 972 00:41:22,500 --> 00:41:19,300 out for the mood Utley up to Christmas 973 00:41:24,300 --> 00:41:22,510 2003 30,000 people were killed in an 974 00:41:28,140 --> 00:41:24,310 earthquake which hit banned in Iran and 975 00:41:30,390 --> 00:41:28,150 immediately after Christmas 2004 125,000 976 00:41:32,220 --> 00:41:30,400 people were killed by a tsunami then I 977 00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:32,230 asked the question why does God choose 978 00:41:36,300 --> 00:41:33,610 this method of celebrating his son's 979 00:41:38,010 --> 00:41:36,310 birth date what surprised me was that a 980 00:41:40,770 --> 00:41:38,020 lot of the criticism came from atheists 981 00:41:42,570 --> 00:41:40,780 and other skeptics who obviously were 982 00:41:44,910 --> 00:41:42,580 suffering from political correctness I 983 00:41:47,190 --> 00:41:44,920 wonder what the world would be like 250 984 00:41:48,540 --> 00:41:47,200 years from now well people that time 985 00:41:51,150 --> 00:41:48,550 have recovered what has been lost over 986 00:41:52,380 --> 00:41:51,160 the last 250 years and going to prepare 987 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:52,390 to accept the idea that they can live 988 00:41:55,860 --> 00:41:54,610 without the need for superstition but 989 00:41:57,870 --> 00:41:55,870 will the world's regressed even more 990 00:41:59,730 --> 00:41:57,880 look like it lost 500 years ago and 991 00:42:02,340 --> 00:41:59,740 supposedly civilized cities read that 992 00:42:03,780 --> 00:42:02,350 the smell of burning witches think about 993 00:42:06,570 --> 00:42:03,790 the good things that God is supposed to 994 00:42:08,760 --> 00:42:06,580 be then think about 125,000 people 995 00:42:11,340 --> 00:42:08,770 killed in a single day of what insurance 996 00:42:12,390 --> 00:42:11,350 companies like to call an act of God ask 997 00:42:15,090 --> 00:42:12,400 yourself what's missing in this picture 998 00:42:17,160 --> 00:42:15,100 of a deity remove the last line involved 999 00:42:18,990 --> 00:42:17,170 his poem about the 1755 lisbon 1000 00:42:40,710 --> 00:42:19,000 earthquake he might have added one thing 1001 00:42:45,730 --> 00:42:43,030 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1002 00:42:48,100 --> 00:42:45,740 zone this week now because of the recent 1003 00:42:50,590 --> 00:42:48,110 situation in Japan I've put back the 1004 00:42:53,920 --> 00:42:50,600 interview Maynard conducted with the 1005 00:42:57,370 --> 00:42:53,930 heart transplant recipient so that 1006 00:43:00,060 --> 00:42:57,380 should be coming up next week but I 1007 00:43:03,310 --> 00:43:00,070 think that's all I have to say this week 1008 00:43:11,590 --> 00:43:03,320 so until then this is Richard Saunders 1009 00:43:14,980 --> 00:43:11,600 signing off from Sydney Australia you've 1010 00:43:19,570 --> 00:43:14,990 been listening to the skeptic zone visit 1011 00:43:22,060 --> 00:43:19,580 our website at www skeptics on TV for